People are writing off our bench this year and I understand why, besides Barnes and Blake they are all kids, and barnes and Blake are inconsistent offensively.
McRob and Troy have played decent in spot duty, but coming off Lamar, we expect more from a third big..
Its funny though..When we had josh Powell he was about the same and every body loved him, and the reason being was THE TEAM was better, but I digress

The thing about next year is these kids are getting great experience, even from the sideline

i look at how ebanks has grown from early in the season to now....This is a season with very little practice. And a season where everything is moving twice as fast.

I see the potential in Morris, as a pass first, defensive minded Big Pg and I think with SUMMER LEAGUE, which he didn't have, and a FULL training camp and pre season he could improve enough to take Blake's spot, and for considerably cheaper.

Same with Goudelock. he needs to get hit the gym a bit, but Summer league, I can see Goudelock shining.

Ebanks/Eyenga... if we keep both, Barnes may be replaced or maybe Metta traded away. Ebanks is certainly good enough to take Metta's place in a year or two.

Hill...This guy's confidence is going to be SKY HIGH.. But even more than all that..

Between Pau, and all the above mentioned, and Sessions and McRob, we have enough tradable commodities to really have a youth movement going

Again - this team, as currently constructed won't make it out of the second round of the playoffs, let alone the West or win the Finals.---fido on 2011 Lakers

I understand what you're saying, but you said "Last time I check we're in the playoffs" so I responded by saying that he doesn't think this team will get past the second round, which could be a reason why he is looking past these playoffs.

Does anyone though?

Truthfully, I'm not sure personally. OKC doesn't look that imposing to me so far in the playoffs. I'm not saying that the Lakers are the favorites, but I do give them a chance and I wouldn't be surprised to see them make it past the second round.

Kobe just stated that with the performance Ron showed before he got suspended and with the additions of Sessions and Hill this Laker team is a legit title contender. Also he said that he doesn't realize why the media has downplayed the Lakers for the whole season.

lmao same person who posted game 3 predictions and just overlooked game 2and no he doesnt believe we'll go fardont let his 10,000 posts fool u

dude, who are you?

i've been here telling people in the beginning of the season to NOT listen to the media.People were acting like we COULD miss the playoffs. That we were not a top 4 seed.Lol

II just am realistic in my assessment that OKC are likely to beat us.

We can beat them, if Artest makes KD work, If Harden is contained and we hit outside shots and everybody contributes positively.Kobe doesnt have to be efficient, just make timely shots. gasol has to be efficient and be a good help defender.Bynum has to be defense first...Sessions has to play good. 14/7/4 boards/ 2 steals on 42%..40% from 3

blake and Barnes have to hit OPEN 3s

HILL has to be a FACTOR, if not Hill, then McRob

Again - this team, as currently constructed won't make it out of the second round of the playoffs, let alone the West or win the Finals.---fido on 2011 Lakers

Kobe just stated that with the performance Ron showed before he got suspended and with the additions of Sessions and Hill this Laker team is a legit title contender. Also he said that he doesn't realize why the media has downplayed the Lakers for the whole season.

We're a good team but I don't see us getting past OKC. To athletic and quick, Westbrook destroys Sessions as if he were Fisher, Harden always plays just as well as Kobe, and they have two of the best big men in the NBA to put on Bynum & Gasol. Oh and on top of this they have HCA.

We're a good team but I don't see us getting past OKC. To athletic and quick, Westbrook destroys Sessions as if he were Fisher, Harden always plays just as well as Kobe, and they have two of the best big men in the NBA to put on Bynum & Gasol. Oh and on top of this they have HCA.

Westbrook might fly past Sessions as if he were Fish, but as long as Kobe is guarding him i'm not worried. Westbrook shot what.. 3 of 22 when Kobe was guarding him the last game. I'm not really worried about our big guys matching up with the OKC. As long as Bynum defends the paint and Gasol takes some pressure off him on the offensice and sets Drew up, its good. Still inn the end IMO it all comes down to x-factors like Metta, Hill and Sessions.

Westbrook might fly past Sessions as if he were Fish, but as long as Kobe is guarding him i'm not worried. Westbrook shot what.. 3 of 22 when Kobe was guarding him the last game. I'm not really worried about our big guys matching up with the OKC. As long as Bynum defends the paint and Gasol takes some pressure off him on the offensice and sets Drew up, its good. Still inn the end IMO it all comes down to x-factors like Metta, Hill and Sessions.

I think Kobe can do a good job of making things tough for Westbrook and Kobe said that he would guard him for a whole series. The only problem is when OKC goes to a line up that doesn't include Thabo and Harden is playing at the 2. That would force Sessions to guard Harden. But if OKC went with their Westbrook, Fisher, Harden, Durant and Ibaka / Perkins line up then you could put Sessions on Fish. But Pau would be guarding Durant.

This thread isn't about this and we could talk about match ups between these two teams for days. But both teams are still in the first round and have to finish off their opposition.

I think its more than possible tp beat OKC. I doubt we face Dallas because for that to happen theu jave to win 4/5 games and i dont see that happening with this roster. OKC lives and dies with the jumpshot the real threat is harden je can get to the rim when he wishes and get calls. OKC is #1 in geting calls while Lakers are #1 in letting opponents take FT attempts. So it should be an intresting match up.

I'm just looking at it like this... They killed us everytime but once this year. In that game Westbrook shot 3-22, Durant shot 11-34, they didn't have Harden almost the entire game, Kobe had to hit miracle shots, and we STILL could only beat them in double OT. I highly doubt that Westbrook or Durant will shoot that bad each game..

They have shot bad in he Dallas series both of them. Also when Kobe was guarding Westbrook he was doing a very good job keeping him contained. If we can play defense like we did in game 1 we will be able to take 1 in OKC

They have shot bad in he Dallas series both of them. Also when Kobe was guarding Westbrook he was doing a very good job keeping him contained. If we can play defense like we did in game 1 we will be able to take 1 in OKC

So Kobe will have to chase around the fastest PG in the NBA the whole series while making sure he drops like 30 for us to win? Maybe a younger Kobe but that will drain him.